Machine for welding



March 21, 1944. J, JAMES MACHINE FOR WELDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 OriginalFiled March 6, 1942 I/WMT Z W 54? gm AVGMi/S March 21, 1944. R JAMES2,344,875

MACHINE FOR WELDING Original Filed March 6, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 FMMil a M V A T i 221?, 1944:. E j 9 JAMES 2,344,875

MACHINE FOR WELDING Original Filed March 6, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q MVMMarch 21, 1944. JAMES MACHINE FOR WELDING 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 OriginalFiled March 6, 1942 w H E I A 4 2 2:: EE a i J y a \\\v J Patented Mar.21, 1944 MACHINE FOR WELDING Edmond J. r. James, Akron, Ohio, assignorto Packard Motor Car Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of MichiganOriginal application March 6, 1942, Serial No.

433,664. Divided and this application October 26. 1942, Serial No.463.309

14 Claims. (Cl. 219-4) 7 This invention relates to a machine forresistance welding metal work pieces, and is a division of myapplication Serial No. 433,664, filed March 6, 1942. v

An object of the invention is to provide for simultaneously joining twowork pieces to remote portions of a third work piece by the sameresistance welding operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a resistance weldingmachine with pressure controlled conductor means that can be applied toa work piece between the welding electrodes to shift with the work pieceas required by dimensional changes occurring during the weldingoperation.

Another object of the invention resides in providing means for holding aplurality of work pieces on a resistance welding machine so that theywill be accurately located during the welding operation.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a welding machine incorporating theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the work pieces mounted on thelower electrode and the locating devices;'

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the structure' shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view'of the work pieces positioned between theelectrodes prior to the welding operation;

Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the wiring for the electrodes shown in themachine in Figs. 1 to 4;

Fig. 6 is another schematic view of a modified form of wiring that maybe used;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the floating locator taken on line 1-1 ofFig.3; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevational view of the upper electrodestructure showing the clamping member and the work piece above thefloatin locator. v

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, the weldingmachine is carriedv by a supof electrode II on the support. Locatorflextends from the central portionofthe upper face" of the electrode.

The machine is designed to resistance weld two work pieces to a thirdwork piece simultaneously and at remote points. Such work pieces cancomprise two arms 23 and 24 and a Journal sleeve 25 joined together as abell crank in actuator mechanism for shifting the drive throughchangespeed gearing. The arms are formed with openings through their endportions and an end of each arm is welded to the ends of the Journalsleeve withscrewed into boss 21 and is adjusted to a desired verticalposition where it is locked by nut 29.

porting frame structure l0 having a base II, a

head l2, and a standard i3. A platform It is supported on screw membersl5 and the rear wall of the platform is formed with projecting flangesl6 engaged by clamping members II attached to the standard. A bed I8 isdetachably secured on the platform and has an electrode support I!)projecting therefrom that is threaded to receive a hold-down nut 20 forclamping the flanged base Rod 23 is in fixed position for the weldingoperation when arranged with its openings piloted on locato'rs 22 and28. v

The Journal sleeve 25 is placed endwise on the end of arm 23 so thattheppening therethrough aligns with the opening piidted on theelectrode. Arm 24 is then placed on the upper end of the sleeve with theopening in on end aligning with the opening in the sleeve and with theother end resting on a floating locator 30, see Fig. 2. A hollow squarestandard 3| is flxed on bed It ad- Jacent electrode support I! andcarries a locator rod 32 having a shouldered end 33 adapted to pilot inand support the end of arm 24 remote from the sleeve. Guide head 34 isfixed to the shouldered end of rod 32 by a set screw 35 locked by nut35. Spring 31 is arranged in the hollow standis formed with a pluralityof hollow upstanding bosses 43 through which rods 44 extend. These rodsare screwed into bed It and nuts 45 are applied to the upper ends of therods to limit upward movement of the carrier frame. Coil springs 46encircle the rods and extend between the carrier frame and the bed sothat the carrier frame is spring mounted and can move vertically.

having their head ends 50 secured to the conductor members 4| and 42 bybolts Ii. Between the head ends 50 and the conductors thereis arrangedan insulation member l2. Bearing caps 53 are secured to the ends 41 ofthe carrier frame by bolts 54 and are arranged to fit over the rods 49..Y

The connecting rods" carrying the conductors are arranged to bereciprocated by fluid pressure and pistons, as indicated at II,aresecured to the rods. The pistons reciprocate in cylinders 5t and studs51 extend through cylinder heads It to secure them and the cylinders tothe cylinder bases 5! which are secured to the end portions 41 and 42 ofthe carrier frame by bolts .80. Fluid conduits 8| connect with the headsof the cylinders and conduits .2. connect with the bases of thecylinders and through a suitable control, the

pistons are caused to reciprocate or to'remain in position engaging theconductors with sleeve 2| or remote therefrom. The adjacent conductorfaces are formed with semicircular grooves corresponding in radius tothe sleeve d are of such dimension that they will engage e sleeve alongits length but with suflicient clearance from arms 23 and 24 to allowfor a decreased sleeve length during the welding operation. It will benoted that the carrier frame supports theconductors 4| and 42 and thepower mechanism for controlling the position of the conductors. Theconductors are arranged to have a close fit with the sleeve 26 and theyare pressed toward each other against the sleeve with sumcient force tomaintain a full contact throughout their adjacent surfaces and thus theconductors will serve to hold the sleeve in proper relation with thearms 22 and 23 during the welding operation. The engaging position ofthe conductors with the sleeve can be regulated through the adjustmentof stop bolts 63 that are fixed to upstanding bosses N projecting fromrods 49, see Figs. 3 and 4, and en gage with bearing caps 53.

The head portion l2 of the machine frame supports the upper electrodeabove arm 24 when positioned to be welded, as previously'described. Aframe III is mounted in a suitable guideway'on a machine frame and isconnected by rOd II with piston 12 arranged in cylinder II. comprises ahead 14, a base I! bolted to the machine head l2 and bolts I! securingthe head and the cylinder to the cylinder base. Fluid pressure conduit11 leads into the head and another similar conduit 18 leads into thebase and the flow of A fluid through these conduits is controlled toactuate and position the piston I2 for raising and lowering and applyingpressure to the upper electrode. The frame III has a bed 19 secured tothe lower end thereof and fixed to this bed is a supporting block 80having a depending threaded reduce-i portion 8| against which the upperelectrode 82 seats and is secured by a cap nut 83 clamping a flangedportion of the electrode against the block ID. The upper electrode isarranged in alignment with the lower electrode 2| and is moved up ordown in accordance with suitable controls for the fluid pressureactuating means.

In order to assist the locator in retaining the arm 24 in properrelation during the welding operation. I propose to provide clampingmeans that is carried by the block to engage and serve this function. Asupporting member 84 is suitably fixed to block 80 and has a finer base85 secured thereto by bolts 06 and this flber member The cylinderwelding operation to compensate for reduction in the length of sleeve25. Because of the floating support for the conductors 4| and 42, theycan be clamped against the sleeve 25 and can move to accommodate anyshift in an axial position of the sleeve 25 during the weldingoperation. The ends of the sleeve 25 are welded to the contacting endsof arms "and 24 by a resistance welding operation through means-ofalternating current flowing through electrodes 2| and 2. During thewelding operation relatively high pressure is applied against themovable electrode 82. The conductors 4| and 42, in addition to locatingthe work pieces, form part of the circuit by means of which currentpasses from one end of the sleeve 25 to the other in order to insure auniform flow between the electrodes in either direction. This type ofcurrent flow through a work piece, such as-a carbon metal sleeve,becomes irregular andnonuniform without assistance of the conductorsherein described and the resulting weld without conductors would not besatisfactory. It will be seen that the ends of the arms are located atthe ends of the sleeve and consequently are spaced so that two separatewelds are made in each welding operation through the use of one circuit.

The beds II and II are formed of copper, or some other similar currentconducting metal, and such members are connected in any suitable mannerwith the secondary of transformer ll. Conductor ll connects thetransformer with platform II and as the bed 19 is movable up and down itis connected with transformer 20 by flexible copper plates 8| bent in Uform. The transformer secondary is contained in a housing 22 at the rearof the machine frame and in this housing is also arranged the powerportion of the fluid pressure system that actuates the movableelectrodeand the conductors. A fluid tank 03 is arranged in the housing andsupportsan electric motor 94 connected by shaft 85 to a pump containedwithin housing 98. Supply conduit 41 leads from the pump housing, aconduit ill leads from the pump housing to the tank and the tank isprovided with a return conduit 99 for fluid released from the cylinders.Conduits 91 and II are connected with conduits ll and II and withconduits GI and 62, and the pressure flow through such conduits can beregulated by solenoid valves in a sequence appearing hereinafter.

The welding current is preferably alternating and is controlled to passthrough the electrodes,

"the work pieces and the conductors from the ends of the secondary oftransformer 90. The ar rangementjs preferably such that the conductorswill be moved to engage the work piece sleeve prior to the lowering ofthe upper electrode and a suitable manually operable electric controlcan be provided for causing actuation of solenoid valves regulatingfluid flow to pistons 55 to obtain this result.

As a safety precaution, this fluid control can be arranged in serieswith the fluid control of the movable electrode and the welding current.Switches Hill are fixed to brackets i0! fixed on the ends 41 and 48 ofthe carrier. The switches are actuated by rods 102 having rollers I93arranged to ride on cam actuators I04 fixed to bosses 64 on The camactuators will move the the rods 49.

rods i close'the circuit for the electrodes and the upper electrodefluid system when the conductors are engaged with sleeve 2} for Inectefd at its endsOto the electrodes, is energized.

Current will flow in a circuit through the arms,

lengthwise through the sleeve and through the conductors to resistanceweld the .arms to the sleeve. The conductors will insure a uniform fiowof current between the ends of the 'sleeve,'regard less of; direction offlow, and consequently e'filclent welds will result. This weldingcircuit is shown schematically in Fig. 5. The transformer can beconnected at one end with the electrodes and at the other end with theconductors as shown schematically in Fig.6. The current is preferablyinterrupted during the welding operation so that the temperature israised in stages.

Although the invention has been described in connection with a specificembodiment, the principles involved are susceptible of numerous otherapplications which will readily occur to persons skilled in the art. Theinvention is therefore to be limited only as indicated by the scope ofthe appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a resistance welding machine, a supporting structure having a headand a stationary bed, an electrode fixed on said bed, a movableelectrode carried by the head and cooperating with the fixed electrodeto directly engage and apply pressure against work pieces locatedtherebee tween, a carrier frame movable in the same direction as saidmovable electrode, locator members movably mounted on. the frame forclamping one of the work pieces in position for welding between theelectrodes, and spring means on the bed supporting the carrier frame.

2'. In a resistance welding machine, a stationary bed, an electrodefixed on said bed, a movable pressure applying electrode cooperatingwith the fixed electrode in a welding operation upon work locatedtherebetween, and movable pressure operated locator member for holding aportion of the work between and in alignment with the electrodes.

3. In a welding machine, a supporting structure having a head and a bed,an electrode fixed on said bed, a movable pressure operated electrodecarried by the head, conductor membersmovable normal to the electrodesfor clamping work therebetween in position for welding, and a carrierfor said conductor members supported on said bed.

4. In a machine for welding a pair of arms to. the ends of a sleeve, astationary electrode, a pressure operated electrode movable toward thestationary electrode, said sleeve being aligned lengthwise between the,electrodes with an arm engaging each end thereof, and a pair of poweroperated members movable to engage and locate said sleeve in position tobe'welded, said members being movable oppositely and normal to thesleeve axis. a

5. In a machine for welding a pair of arms to the ends of a sleeve, afixed electrode, a power operated electrode, fixed means locating one ofthe arms on the fixed electrode, means for holding the sleeve in endwiserelation on the fixed farnrnnd imaxial alignment with the electrodes,

theuends of a sleeve to form a bell crank, a fixed electrode, a poweroperated electrode, means for holding thearmsand sleeve in'beli crankrelation during the welding operation including a locator for the arm tobe engaged by the power operated electrode, and means carried by saidpower operated electrode cooperating with said locatcr to clamp the armengaged, by the power operated electrode in position during theweldingoperation.

7. In a machine for welding a pairof arms to the ends of a sleeve, anelectrode fixed on the,

machine, a power operated electrode mounted on the machine above thefixed electrode, means locating the arms relative to the electrodes, apair of members locating the sleeve between the arms and in alignmentwith the electrodes, power means for controlling engagement anddisengagement of the members with the sleeve, a carrier frame supportingthe members and their controlling power means, and means supporting saidcarrier frame for shifting movement with the sleeve resulting fromdecreased length during the welding operation.

8. In a machine for welding a pair of arms to the ends of a sleeve, anelectrode fixed on the machine, a power operated electrode mounted onthe machine above the fixed electrode, means locating the arms with thesleeve therebetween and in alignment with the electrodes, 9. pair ofopposed members for engaging the sleeve between the arms, a carrierframe having bearings, power I operated actuator means for the membersoperating in said bearings, stop means fixed to the actuator means andengaseable with the bearings to limit the movement of the members in thedirection of the sleeve, and spring means for mounting said carrierframe on the machine.

9. In a machine for welding a pair of arms to a sleeve. a fixedelectrode, a power operated electrode, means for retaining one of thearms on the fixed electrode, means holding the sleeve endwise on the armretained on the fixed electrode and in alignment with the electrodes,and a locator for holding the other arm on the other end of the sleeve,said locator having a spring mounting in a fixed standard to permitmovement of the arm under pressure of the electrode during a weldingoperation 10. In a machine for resistance weldin one.

the movable electrode and the cylindrical member.

11. In a machine for resistance welding one end of an arm to one end ofa cylindrical memher, a stationary electrode, a movable head carrying anelectrode in alignment with the stationary electrode, means supportingthe member in alignment with the electrodes, and floating means on whichthe free end of the arm is mounted to locate the other end betweenthemovable electrode and an end of the cylindrical member.

12. In a machine for resistance welding one end of an arm to one end ora cylindrical member, a supporting structure, a movable head mounted onthe supporting structure, an electrode fixed on the supportingstructure, an electrode carried by the head, a locator member movablymounted on the supporting structure for supporting the free end of thearm, and a guide head for the arm ilxed to the iocator member, saidlocator and guide head positioning the end of the arm to be weldedbetween the movable electrode and an end oi the cylindrical member.

13. In a machine for resistance welding one end of an arm to one end ofa cylindrical member. a

supporting structure, a head movably mounted on the structure, anelectrode carried by the head, an electrode nxed on the structure inailinment with the movable electrode, means locating the cylindricalmember between and in axial alignment with the electrodes, a locatormember 10 tions to one end of a cylindrical member, a supportingstructure having a base and a head, an electrode movably carried by thehead, an electrode fixed to the base, locator means on the nxedelectrode piloted in the opening in one end 18 o! the arm, locator meansfor supporting the free end of the arm fixed on the base and piloted inthe opening therethrough, and means supporting the cylindrical memberendwise on the arm portion above the fixed electrode and in alignment '0with the movable electrode.

EDMOND J. P. JAMES.

